NORTH HAMPTON -- Five years after being founded in a Stratham farmhouse, Simply Green Biofuels – already millions of gallons to its ever-growing credit – is poised to roll out the latest in a half decade-long list of industry game-changers. Last week the company announced it would soon open a retrofitted storage operation in North Hampton, the first of its kind anywhere in the Granite State. Featuring two tanks totaling 193,000 gallons of storage space, the new facility – located at 227 Atlantic Avenue – will exponentially expand the Seacoast’s supply of biofuels. Not only that, but the 100% waste vegetable oil biodiesel will all come from within 150 miles of Portsmouth, making the product as local as it is environmentally friendly. “It’s a huge announcement for us,” said Simply Green General Manager Joel Bobbett. “No one stores that amount — not even close to that amount — of locally manufactured biodiesel anywhere in the state. This new facility gives us the ability to cover the entire state. It’s a whole different ballgame.”While the product itself will only be made available for wholesale through other, mostly local retailers, Bobbett says the facility’s capacity to custom blend the green fuel should help make it more readily – and easily – available. “Basically, any conceivable percentage of biofuel blend that a customer wants, they can get now,” Bobbett noted. “What this does is it takes away the excuse that it’s not available in the quantity or the ratio that people want. And, we think this is going to help grow the market here in New Hampshire exponentially.”Bobbett says the new storage facility should give Simply Green a delivery capacity of more than 20 million gallons of American-made fuel for retailers of all sizes. That’s 20 million fewer gallons of petroleum shipped from foreign – and often hostile – sources. “The amount of petroleum we’ll be displacing with American-made fuel is definitely one of the things we’re proudest about,” said Bobbett. “Usually when it comes to the growth of the green economy we’re always talking in small steps. But this is a big step, particularly for the Seacoast region.”Built in 2001, the facility is segregated into two vertical steel tanks – one comprising 153,000 gallons, the other, 41,000 gallons. The bulk plant is registered by the N.H. Department of Environmental Services for above ground petrochemical storage, and is situated in a 110 percent containment concrete dyke.“Our plans for the facility include insulating the tanks for year-round heated biodiesel storage, heat recovery, top-loading, and 24-hour access, said Bobbett of the new facility. “The first stage of retrofitting is already underway.” For many a Seacoast resident, making the switch from standard heating oil to BioHeat was always less about the product’s effectiveness and relatively benign environmental impact, and more about compatibility and convenience. Now, thanks to Simply Green, both could soon be moot matters.“I rent my apartment, and for my landlord getting BioHeat was always a matter of availability and accessibility,” said Jen Lane, a Newmarket resident and University of New Hampshire student. “Knowing that no matter who our provider is Simply Green can get them the right mix, that makes me feel like the money I pay for heat is going to a much better place.”Simply Green is already working with retailers throughout the state in providing BIoHeat and Biodiesel to municipalities, fleets and residential homes and vehicles.According to Simply Green’s website, a home that switches from conventional home heating oil to BioHeat will keep 560 pounds of C02 out of the atmosphere for every 500 gallons used.As if the reduced carbon footprint weren’t enough, customers that sign up with Simply Green can save $60 annually for every 500 gallons used. And if the customers are members of Green Alliance – the Portsmouth-based organization founded by Simply Green and which offers consumer members 10 cents off of every gallon of Simply Green fuel – the bottom line impact could be even more noticeable. Call it going green and saving green. “It has always been the vision for Simply Green to provide more sustainable energy to every possible home or car or truck in the Seacoast and throughout the state,” Bobbett added. “We’re proud to continue our quest to make that vision a reality.”Learn more about Simply Green at www.simplygreenbiofuels.comFor more info on Green Alliance, visit www.greenalliance.biz